Music drafting apparatus



E. E; MAGNUSON MUSIC DR'FTING APPARATUS VDee-` 23,l 1952 5 shee's-sneet 1 Filed; ,July 2. 1949 EEE:

IawezaoH atm EM Dgc. 23, 19524 E.. MAGNUsoN MUSIC DRAFTING APPARATUS Filed July 2. 19549 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 D.,23, 1952 E. E. MAGNusoN 2,522,333

MUSIC DRAFTING. APPARATUS :Filed July `2. 1949 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 E E. MAGNusoN 2,622,333

Musrc DRAFHNG APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 23, 1952 E. E. MAGNUsoN MUSIC DRAFTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1949 MU l SLV@ Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSIC DRAFTING APPARATUS Ephraim E. Magnuson, Arlington, Mass.

Application July 2, 1949, Serial No. 102,839

2 Claims. (Cl. 313-174) This invention relates to music drafting machines, and pertains more particularly to improvements in apparatus for manually inscribing in proper spaced relation on a blank musical staff, printed or otherwise reproduced on a paper sheet, the various notes and other musical symbols of a manuscript score, so that the inscribed sheet may be photographed and reproduced in multiple copies by printing.

Y The principal purpose of the invention is to provideA a musical drafting machine having a template movable over the staff sheet in two directions and manually adjustable in each direction, with respect to the staff, the template having openings of various shapes through which the musical notes and symbols may be manually inscribed on the staff in proper relation to the staff lines and to each other, according to the musical value of the notes or symbols the note spacing designated on a manuscript score.

Additional objects of the invention and novel features of the musical drafting machine will become apparent from the following description of the recommended embodiment of the invention shown on the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the appended claims. It will be understood, however, thatv the structural details of the apparatus herein illustrated and described may be varied to suit particular purposes or conditions without departing from the essence of this invention as set forth in said claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a music drafting machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking to the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation looking to the` left of Fig. 2;v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the adjustable template and its movable carriage, forming part of the machine;

Fig. 51s a detail elevation taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom View of the template carriage shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 1--1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the table and the machine on which the staff sheet is placed, showing locating plugs for properly aligning the staff sheet on the table; and

Fig. 9 isa section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

' In the particular' embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration, the music drafting machine comprises a table II suitably mounted in horizontal position adjacent an inclined back panel I2 which may be made of aluminum or other suitable material and constitutes the front of a cabinet I3 containing drawers I4 for drafting instruments and equipment, the cabinet, panel and table being supported in elevated position upon a frame I5. A closed compartment I'G is preferably located beneath the table II and contains a light bulb I1 which may be mounted on a hinged door I8 affording access to the compartment. The table II and compartment I6 are so arranged with respect to the inclined panel I2 as to provide a space between the back of the table and the panel, so that a spacing guide chart I9, pivoted at 20 to the panel, may be swung downwardly between the board and the table (as indicated by the broken line position of Fig. 3) for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A carriage 2l, extending transversely of the table I I is mounted for movement longitudinally of the table, on suitable rails or guides extending along the front and back of the table II. As here shown, the front rail 22 consists of a metal strip suitably fastened in spaced parallel relation to the front edge of the table, and the back guide rail 23 has an upper portion of angular cross section providing a pointed ridge which is received in complemental slots 24 in the bottoms of the back wings 25 of the carriage 2E! (Figs. 2 and 6). The front end of the carriage has a bottom shoe 26 which rides on the rail 22.

The carriage or platform 2l preferably consists of a metal plate provided on its underside (Figs. 6 and 7) with a shaft 21 which carries the bearings 28 of a plate 29, one edge of which is provided with a rack 30. A template holder 3I mounting a template 32 is connected by suitable struts 33 to the plate 29, so that the ternplate is supported at one side of the carriage below the plane of the plate 29 which is slidable beneath the top of the carriage 2| on the shaft 21.

A pinion 34 is pivotally mounted under the carriage platform, in operative engagement with the rack 30 of the plate 29, by a shaft 35 carrying a knob 36 disposed above the carriage and equipped with a pointer 31 movable over a circular scale 38. Thus by rotating the knob 35, the template 32 may be moved along the carriage, transversely of the table II, and the position of the template relative to the carriage maybe adjusted Vby regulation of the pointer 31 which preferably has a downwardly projecting tip 38 engageable in notches 39 of the dial scale 38 (Fig. 5). The notches are so spaced that movement of the pointer top from one notch to the next adjacent notch moves the template a distance equivalent to half the space between the lines of a musical staff placed beneath the template. The carriage is manually movable longitudinally of the table on the guide rails 22 and 23, as aforesaid, so that the position of the template may thus be adjusted in two directions, both longitudinally and transversely of the table II.

The template is preferably disposed a short distance above the surface of the table Ii which may be provided with a linoleum cover 46, on Which the sheet of staff paper 4I is placed, so that the template may be freely moved without disturbing the sheet 4 I. The staff sheet is located in proper position on the table top by aligning the staff with scribed lines 42 on the surface of transparent plugs 43 tted in openings in the table (Figs. 8 and 9), the lines of saidV plugs being illuminated by the light bulb Il in the underlying compartment I6. The sheet may be xed in position by thumb tacks, or otherwise. rShe f staff sheet 4I has conventional stair lines 44, printed or otherwise reproduced thereon, and the` clef signs may also be printed on the stas. Otherwise. the staffs are blank, and the mechanical notes and other symbols are manually inscribed on the staffs by inserting a pen or other scribing instrument through one or more of a series of openings 45 out through the template 32. The sheet 4I is so located by the plug lines di. that the left-hand ends of the staffs thereon are in a line intersecting the pivot 2D, when the staff lines are parallel to guide rail 23.

The longitudinal position of the carriage 2i with respect to the table I I is regulated byv regis-- tering the scribed lines 46 on an index tab 41 fastened to the back of the carriage (Figs. l and 4) with graph lines inscribed on the pivoted, sectorshaped chart I9. The respective index lines 45 preferably relate to the position of an eighth note, a quarter note, and a half note. lThe registration of one of said lines with a selected guide line of the sector chart regulates the longitudinal spacing on the staff 44 of notes or symbols of differing value, inscribed through the openings 45 of template 32. The desired spacing of the notes is usually marked on the manuscript score which is to be reproduced. by the drafting machine. Usually an eighth note requires six spaces. from the precedingnote, a quarter note takes eight spaces, and a half note takes ten spaces; but this relationship is more or less arbitrary and obviously subject to variation. In any event, the total note space of the sta-ff and the relative spacing of the notes, is indicated on the draft or manuscript score which is reproduced by the user of my music drafting machine.

In order properly to space the notes longitudinally of the sta'hin accordance with such designations, the sector chart is preferably inscribed with lines 41 radiating from the pivot 2Q. and with parallel lines 4S which are disposed in spaced parallel relationship to the margin 49 of the sector disc I9. The spacing of the parallel lines 48 is a measure of the spacing distance of the notes or symbols to be inscribed on the staff d4 of the sheet 4 I. As shown in Figs. l and 3, the distance between the lines 4t! is equivalent to ten musical spaces on the staff, but it will be evident that the chart I9 may have parallell guide lines spaced at a distance equivalentto one musical space (or 4 any other multiple), if desired. The spacing values of the guide lines 48 may be marked on the chart, as shown in Fig. 3, for the convenience of the user, it being understood that the numerical indications progress from the line of origin 49 (which passes through the pivot 2B) to the opposite side of the sector chart I9. The radial lines 4S are for the convenience of the user in setting the position of the chart with respect to the index tab 41, and may be omitted if not required for that purpose.

As is apparent, the chart I9 provides a proportioning rule by which any selected total staff space is divided, along the radial lines 41, into unit spaces of uniform value corresponding to the spacing of the notes or symbols to be inscribed on the staff sheet 4I. The pivoted guide chart I9 may be held in adjusted position by any suitable fastening or clamping means such, for example, as the clamp 50 and nut 5I of Fig. 3.

In setting the operative position of the guide chart I9', it is swung on the pivot 20 until the particular guide line 48 having a value Vequal'to the total spacing of the stair to be reproduced, intersects the edge of the index tab 41 at a point in line With the right hand ends of the blank staffs 44 on the sheet III. The index lines on tab 41 may then be registered with appropriate guide lines 4i: on the chart, to locate the desired aperture of the template 32 longitudinally ofthe staff sheet for the correct spacing of a particular musical note or symbol from theleft hand end of the staff 44.

The transverse position of the template is then adjusted by turning the knob 36 until the opening for the note to be inscribed is properly located above the appropriate space of the staff, as shown on the manuscript score. The notches 39 ofl the index dial 38 may be so arranged that by moving the pointer 31 from one notch to the next notch, the position of the inscribed note Would be moved from a line to a space, or vice versa. The template 32 is preferably of transparent materialand` may have scored lines, as indicated at -52V (Fig. 4) as a further register check with thelines ofthe stair on the sheet I I. The shape of the openings 45 in the template may take various forms, as desired by the draftsman, it being understood that tWo or more of the openings maybe used in inscribing a single note such, for example-,as the base, the stem and the ag of an eighth note; the template being moved by the knob to the ap` propriate transverse position for inscribingtghe individual elements of the note.

After the musical score of the manuscript has been thus reproduced on the staff sheet 4I, the sheet may be photographed and the negative or positive prints used in making printing platesfor reproducing the printed score in multiple copies. 'Ine use of the music drafting machine herein disclosed ensures correct formation and` accurate spacing of the musical notes and symbols on the staff sheet 4 I, and offset or other printing plates photographicalhr produced from suchl sheets, provide cleaner and clearer prints than the prints made by conventional methods.

I claim:

l. A music drafting machine for manually inscribing notes and symbols on a paper `sheet displaying a musical stair, comprising a table for supporting the staff sheet. a carriage movable longitudinally of the table, means for guiding longitudinal movement of the car=riage,. an apertured template, means slidablyconnecting the template to the carriage for movementsof the template transversely of the table, manually operated means on the carriage for regulating said sliding movement, and visual indicating means associated with the carriage and table respectively for indicating longitudinally adjustable positions of the movable carriage, whereby successive positions of the template with respect to the table may be accurately regulated by inspection of said visual indicating means, according to the desired spacing of the notes or symbols inscribed on the stai sheet through the apertures of the template, said visual indicating means comprising a ruled chart pivotally mounted for angular movement with respect to said table, said chart having axis lines projected radially from its pivot and uniformly spaced, parallel guide lines traversing said radial lines, and an index on one end of said carriage, adapted to be moved into registration with the guide lines on the chart after the chart is swung on its pivot to bring a selected axis thereof into position for registration. with said index.

2. A music drafting machine for manually inscribing notes and symbols on a paper sheet displaying a musical staff, comprising a table for supporting the staff sheet, a carriage movable longitudinally cf the table, means for guiding longitudinal movement of the carriage, an apertured template, means slidably connecting the template to the carriage for movement of the template transversely of the table, manually operated means on the carriage for regulating said sliding movement, and visual indicating means associated With the carriage and table respectively or indicating longitudinally adjustable positions of the movable carriage, whereby successive positions of the template with respect to the table may be accurately regulated by inspection of said visual indicating means, according to the desired spacing of the notes or symbols inscribed on the stail sheet through the apertures of the template, said visual indicating means comprising a panel disposed in spaced, inclined relation to a longitudinal edge of said table, and a ruled chart pivotally mounted on said panel for angular movement with respect to said table edge, said chart having axis lines projected radially from its pivot and uniformly spaced, parallel guide lines traversing said radial lines, the end of the carriage adjacent said edge having an index adapted to be brought into registration with one of the guide lines on said chart after the chart is 'swung on its pivot to bring a selected axis thereof into position for registration with said index.

EPHRAIM E. MAGNUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 802,975l Cremers Oct. 31, 1905 1,672,751 Conti June 5, 1928 1,761,863 Bassist June 3, 1930 1,980,884 Sidney Nov. 13, 1934 50 1,994,046 Newbaker Mar. 12, 1935 2,034,529 Olson Mar. 17, 1936 2,047,690 Keaton July 14, 1936. 2,156,524 Christensen May 2, 1939y 2,468,191 Fullilove Apr. 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,653 Switzerland Dec. 7, `1908 

